Building on the success of previous RISE-UP programs, which have trained more than 300 innovators across Rhode Island, Alaska, and Hawai’i, the new award will expand entrepreneurship, commercialization, and workforce development programs focused on accelerating dual-use technologies for maritime, energy, and defense applications.
URI Ideation Studio participants listen as a guest speaker describes their entrepreneurship journey. Offered through RISE-UP each Fall, Spring, and Summer, the Ideation Studio supports faculty, staff, students, and community teams from all disciplines to develop a wide range of innovative dual-use solutions that can be transferred to the real world as products, services, and new business ventures.
The funding will enable URI, through URI Innovations, to expand support for researchers, students, faculty, and entrepreneurs working to transform promising technologies into real-world solutions. Through hands-on innovation training, mentorship, commercialization support, and early-stage venture development, URI Innovations powers the RISE-UP program and equips participants with the skills and resources needed to advance technologies that address critical maritime, energy, and national security challenges for military and civilian use. The program also strengthens collaboration among universities, industry, government, and defense partners to accelerate innovation and workforce development.
“This award reflects the momentum URI has built in connecting research, entrepreneurship, and strategic industry partnerships to address critical national challenges,” said Peter Rumsey, associate vice president for economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the University of Rhode Island. “Through RISE-UP and the work of URI Innovations, the University has created proven pathways that help researchers, students, and innovators translate promising technologies into real-world solutions. This funding will allow URI to expand programs that are already delivering impact, strengthen Rhode Island’s maritime and defense innovation ecosystem, and further position the University as a catalyst for economic growth, workforce development, and technology translation.”
RISE-UP has already contributed to the creation of the Ocean Technology Center testbed on URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus, strengthened URI’s collaboration with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport in support of its “Mastery of the Seas at All Depths 2035” strategic vision, and helped build a growing network of university, industry, government, and defense partners across the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific regions. This tri-state collaboration connects innovation ecosystems in Alaska, Hawai’i, and Rhode Island to advance technologies and workforce development that support naval shipbuilding, resilient energy infrastructure, and maritime operations. The initiative also supports Rhode Island companies working at the forefront of ocean technology and defense innovation, including Saab, Inc., Anduril, HavocAI, VATN Systems, and General Dynamics Electric Boat. Through these partnerships, RISE-UP helps accelerate the development and commercialization of dual-use maritime and energy technologies while strengthening Rhode Island’s naval shipbuilding and defense industrial base.
The new funding will enable URI to scale these successful efforts, helping develop the next generation of naval technology suppliers, entrepreneurs, and highly skilled technical talent. By expanding innovation programming and university-industry partnerships, URI is strengthening Rhode Island’s position as a hub for maritime technology, defense innovation, and ocean entrepreneurship.
As URI continues to connect research excellence with commercialization and economic development, RISE-UP 4.0 represents another milestone in the University’s commitment to advancing innovation, supporting national defense priorities, and strengthening Rhode Island’s economy. Powered by URI Innovations, the program continues to create pathways for transforming research discoveries into technologies and ventures that deliver real-world impact.
